AMAZING NEWS: 08/30/20

RIP Chadwick Boseman 1976 – 2020.  Many, many tributes, among them Spike Lee, The Atlantic, and more 

(Much discussion also regarding the future of the films he was scheduled to appear in, including, most obviously, the planned Black Panther series.  Steven Barnes is arguing that the story arc begun in Captain America:  Civil War, through Black Panther and continuing with the Infinity Wars duology should be completed (with another actor) before “handing the suit over to Shuri”, a position I generally agree with.  However, I am also thinking about CGI, Carrie Fisher’s last appearances in Star Wars, but likewise also thinking that it is too soon to be really thinking about such things.)

Likewise, RIP John Bangsund, Australian BNF and fellow Chandlerphile (though unlike myself, John  has actually received a Chandler award).  You can learn more on Bruce Gillespie’s SF Commentary.

Chris Garcia and family have been forced from their home due to the California wild fires.  It’s best for Chris to be “contained” (for his own and everyone else’s safety) so there’s a crowd funder for helping them out with expenses.

Paul Levinson reviews Lovecraft Country

Felapton dives back in to awards in commenting on Eric Flint’s piece about SF Awards  (charts that go with this discussion here)

Speaking of Canon, Nisi Shawl offers up this reading list on the foundations of Black science fiction

Another Asteroid Threatens Earth…

And speaking of things coming around again, the Bicameral Mind 

Homer Carter of Mars, with the Incomparable Marge Thoris

Celebrating 70’s SF, the Space 1975 Kickstarter has exceeded its initial goal and has a bit more than two days to go

An interview with James Ransome, illustrator of the Folio Society’s new edition of Butler’s Kindred.

Can the Past teach us anything about the now?  Sometimes.

This recently released Soviet era film makes setting off the world’s largest hydrogen bomb look like fun

Human Navy pilot defeated in trials against AI Navy pilot – yes, they are weaponizing AI’s, despite the fact that yesterday, August 29th, was Judgement Day in the Terminator universe.

Gary K Wolf announces the re-release of his first SF novel – Killer Bowl

My dream library – EVERY book is front facing

Would Heinlein in the public domain be more popular than Heinlein not in the public domain?  (Maybe ask that question about an author whose works aren’t all still in print….)

Check out these photos of Robert Bloch;  the man who wrote Psycho was a ham

…and, on his birthday, fans want to remind us that you can still get all of Jack Vance‘s published works

MacMillan brings our attention to

New in Sci-Fi and Fantasy

The Memory of Souls Jenn Lyons Now that Relos Var’s plans have been revealed and demons are free to rampage across the empire, the fulfillment of the ancient prophecies—and the end of the world—is closer than ever. The Memory of Souls is the third epic fantasy in Jenn Lyons’ Chorus of Dragons series. “Lyons has cleverly taken the epic fantasy tropes of prophecy and lineage and stood them on their heads, all while delving deep into her multidimensional characters and spinning great battles with high body counts.”—Booklist, starred review An excerpt here

Signum University announces fall classes –

• The Worlds of J. R. R. Tolkien (Live) – John Garth
• Folkloric Transformations: Vampires & Big Bad Wolves (Flex) – Dr. Dimitra Fimi
• Chaucer 1: Visions of Love (Flex) – Dr. Corey Olsen
• Eddic Poetry in Old Norse (Live) – Dr. Carl Edlund Anderson & Dr. Paul Peterson

and Viz Media shares their November and December releases –

November 2020 Solicitations
December 2020 Solicitations